The Road to Freedom
By The Senshi of Valis
Chapter 28
I don't own W.I.T.C.H. or Ranma 1/2
Taranee laughed at another of Irma's silly jokes as Ryouga and Irma was on a sort of impropatu double date with Dreck and herself. Taranee had only known this Dreck for a few short hours as they all sat around a table at the Silver Dragon. She was also well aware of the not so stealthy spying Hay Lin was doing. Of course Hay Lin came out earlier but she had said she wanted to give the love birds privacy as if they were getting any anyways.
It was kind of strange though, Taranee kept having conflicting emotions concerning Dreck. On one hand he was very nice looking, seemed very smart and gentlemanly as well as having a great personality. All in all, he was the type of guy her mother would go crazy over, actually pushing him and Taranee together. On the other hand, while she did like him so far she also felt that they had met before and a part of her was terrified in some small way of him. That was why she was very happy when they ran into Irma and Ryouga here.
"I've had a wonderful time tonight." Dreck said with a smile as he reached over and took Taranees hand over the table while he looked her deeply in the eyes.
"M-Me too." Taranee stammered nervously but it quickly wore off as she heard Irma making soft oohing sounds.
"How about you, Ryouga?" Irma asked mirthfully.
"GUARDIAN!" A familiar voice roared just before a large hole was blown into one of the walls. At seeing the large blue creature that was Frost everyone took off running as the headed for the exits.
"Irma, take Ryouga and make sure everyone gets out okay." Taranee said, "I have a score to settle with Frost."
"I'll stay with you." Dreck said, earning him suspicious glares from the guardians and Ryouga.
"I'm staying, you're going." Taranee said.
"I'm staying too." Irma said.
"No, get everyone out then you can come back and help if I need it but I need to do this myself." Taranee said as she watched Frost. She may not have been able to transform but she still had some power plus the training she had so far. She knew she couldn't beat him but she could distract him and then escape.
"I'm staying too." Dreck said as Irma and Ryouga hesitantly headed off to help evacuate the building which Taranee noticed Hay Lin was also helping in.
"Come with me Gaurdian and no one else will get hurt." Frost sneered.
"Never." Taranee replied as her hand glowed with power. "Please…go Dreck, I…"
"It's okay, Taranee. I know what you are but I'm the one who's sorry for everything I've done." Dreck said. "I…I didn't want you to find out this way but I truly love you and…I'm sorry."
"Come on, Cedric, stop talking nonsense and lets teach this little trash a lesson." Frost laughed.
"Nobody talks that way about the girl I love Frost." Dreck growled as his eyes glowed brightly.
"What are you talking about?" Frost asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"This." Dreck said as he walked over to Frost and lifted him off the ground by his neck. "I know Taranee will never forgive me for what I've done but I will protect her no matter what."
"D-Dreck…what's going on?" Taranee asked, feeling like she was hyperventilating. She had no idea what was happening but it was starting to scare her.
"I'm sorry." Dreck said sadly as his whole body glowed with power as he grew and changed forms becoming once again his snakelike form of Cedric. Cedric threw Frost back out the hole and followed as Taranee dropped to her knees while shaking her head. Tears were slowly falling as she watch in horror as the truth behind Dreck was revealed to her.
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Will sighed in relief as the made it into the castle unnoticed through the few underground tunnels that led under it. She was really nervous though as she walked next to Ranma holding hands while giving each other support for what was going to happen. They was hoping to get out of there unnoticed but somehow they both doubted that would happen.
"Hello, Will." A familiar voice said softly from behind them. They both spun around quickly to come face to face with Elyon. "I know why you are here."
"Please Elyon, don't try to stop us." Will said while Ranma dropped into his no stance stance, readying himself to fight.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Elyon smiled sadly, "In fact I will help you on one condition."
"What?" Ranma asked wearily.
"Take me with you and hide me." Elyon sighed.
"What?" Will asked in shock. That was a very strange request from Elyon as she seemed more than happy to stay here in Metamoor.
"My brother…he's planning something. On my coronation he plans to kill me I think." Elyon said while looking to the floor. "Please, Will, make a copy of me and hide me until I see what happens. If he kills my astral drop it will just return it to me and I'll know for sure. If he doesn't then I'll know I was wrong."
Will wasn't sure what to say but by the way Elyon was talking and how depressed she was acting Will was sure that the princess actually had proof of Phobos planning something. Will couldn't just leave Elyon here if Phobos was planning to harm her so she did the only thing she could. Will held up her hand and called forth the crystal making an astral drop of Elyon.
"Let's get this over with." Will said as Elyon nodded sadly but gratefully. Will hugged the depressed girl tightly for a few moments then sent the astral drop to return to Elyon's chambers.
